Local issues top poll agenda in Bhilwara

PCC President CP Joshi, who had lost the assembly polls by just one vote last year, is trying his luck from the Bhilwara Lok Sabha seat now though rival and sitting BJP MP V P Singh thinks his development work will help him trump the Congress leader.      

"Improving road connectivity and the expansion of the broadgauge rail line were among the work I have done for the region during my tenure as the MP, which would surely help me win people's confidence," Singh, who is seeking a third term from here, told PTI.      

Political observers said local issues like the scarcity of drinking water, support to textile industries here and infrastructure constraints will dominate the poll here.      

Keeping in mind the public perception, Singh said, "Making drinking water available from the Bisalpur project, overall development of textile industries and air connectivity would be my priority this time if voted to power."      

On the other hand, Congress nominee Joshi alleged that the BJP's sitting MP has not done anything to solve the drinking water problem which has remained for years.      

"He could not solve the major water problem of the constituency which is one of his failures, while credit for the four-lane road and the broadgauge expansion goes to the congress-led UPA government at the Centre," Joshi said.According to him, linking the region to the Chambal river is the only solution to the problem.      

"Special efforts are needed to bring the textile town Bhilwara on the international map for its overall development and I would work towards it besides solving the drinking water problem," he said.      

The Bhilwara Lok Sabha constituency with an electorate of 14.91 lakh comprises eight assembly seats. The BJP and the Congress had grabbed 4 each in the assembly polls last year.